Give Your Legs a Break: Try Kayaking

Most of us do not have a river or the ocean in our backyard or a kayak and accessories waiting on the shore. Unless you do, kayaking requires a little more advance planning than many sports. Taking the time is well worth it.

"Kayaking is a great sport for connecting with nature," says Oliver Fix, the 1996 Olympic men's kayak champion. Being on the water "provides an excellent environment for mental relaxation and physical challenge," Fix adds.

Consider making kayaking part of a backpacking trip, nature excursion, or adventure vacation, and you will see things you would never see on foot, in a car, or from a train. Your options are almost limitless. "There's whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, paddling in Canadian Lakes, or for that matter, anywhere in the world," Fix enthuses.

Body Benefits

If the call of the wild is not enough to get you to trek to the nearest body of water and paddle away, consider the fact that kayaking provides a unique upper body strength and aerobic workout that nothing you do at home can match. "Kayaking provides tremendous stimulation to your lower back and abdominal muscles," says Richard Cotton, an executive wellness coach. "It also works your upper back, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and forearms."

Cotton says you can get great strength benefits and build your anaerobic capacity by doing interval training in a kayak—going hard for one minute, then relaxing for two to three minutes, then going hard again. "Athletes training for kayaking competition do a lot of intervals," he adds.

In addition to building upper body strength, kayaking is "a fabulous aerobic workout," Cotton says. "It doesn't burn quite as many calories as
running
or
cross-country skiing, but your heart gets a great workout and it's probably something you will really enjoy doing." Kayaking at a moderate pace burns about the same calories per hour as moderate
swimming
or slow jogging—around 300 calories for a 130 pound female and 400 calories for a 170 pound male. Not many sports offer such a great combination aerobic and strength workout.

"Kayaking is an excellent
cross-training
modality," Cotton attests, "especially for runners, who often have great legs and wimpy arms." Fix agrees. He says that kayaking is a great alternative to conventional fitness training, which focuses mainly on the lower body. "For people with knee problems, kayaking takes an unhealthy stress off and allows them to challenge themselves and increase their fitness levels."

Don't Get Hurt

Every sport carries with it risk of injury. One way to reduce your chances of injury is to get yourself ready during the off season. Hit the gym with a set of goals. You will need to do the following:

Increase aerobic endurance

Develop core strength

Improve flexibility

Strengthen upper back, chest, shoulder, arm, and leg muscles

Put your plan into motion 2-3 months before you get on the water. You can train 2-3 days a week, which will increase your power and reduce your risk of injury.

You are almost there! Do not jump into your kayak just yet. Although you are sitting down while you paddle, kayaking involves your entire body. Take some time to loosen up your muscles. Start out with a short jog or quick walk. Once you feel a bit looser, take 10-15 minutes to stretch your shoulders, arms, back, legs, and core.

Beginners Need to Know

"Beginners should definitely take a course," says Kym Lutz. You will need to learn everything from basic strokes to rolls to wet exits (how you get out of the boat underwater if you do not know how to roll). Rolling is one of the most important skills because "once you get it, you get it," Lutz says.

If you will be paddling in whitewater, Fix advises that you hook up with a professional instructor who understands river safety and can help you understand how river features "change dramatically with only slight changes in water level."

On flat water, the chances for tipping are slim, but you never know what will happen and having basic exit and roll skills is a good idea. On whitewater or in the ocean, you need to be especially well-prepared. Another option for beginners, Lutz says, is a sit-on-top boat for which learning to roll or wet exit is unnecessary. If you are set on a sleek sit-inside boat, you can find a class at the YMCA, local colleges, or local paddling clubs.

Gear Basics

There are five pieces of equipment you need before you hit the water. These include:

Paddle

Boat
—Whitewater kayaks are generally made from plastic. Ocean kayaks may be made from wood, fiberglass, or a blend of materials.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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